Singapore cell

has signed an agreement with a Singaporean consortium of companies to jointly invest $100 million in developing a commercially viable power system based on fuel cell technology.

Having begun research into fuel cell technology in 1992, Rolls-Royce established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (RRFCS), in January 2003 to manage its future research and development activities in this field.

Under the terms of the agreement, Rolls-Royce and the Singapore consortium, EnerTek Singapore (EnerTek), will invest a further $100 million in the project and, after allowing for capital already invested and value created by Rolls-Royce, EnerTek will hold a 25 per cent stake in RRFCS.

Rolls-Royce said in a statement that the Singapore consortium will bring technology and expertise to the project, particularly in the areas of ceramics, manufacturing automation and core research. One of the consortium investors, Accuron Technologies, is supplying RRFCS with ceramic components through its subsidiary company, Advanced Materials Technologies.

“The science of the fuel cell is no secret – but turning it into an affordable and competitive technology will need engineering skills of a high order,” said Charles Coltman, the Chairman and Chief Executive of RRFCS and formerly the Director of Corporate Development at Rolls-Royce. “We are on track and cautiously optimistic.”